!!! (Chk Chk Chk) are the New York based, LA born agit-pop-funk band who are just about to release their fourth album. From humble beginnings fusing house beats and spoken word extractions of the Flashdance soundtrack to supporting the Red Hot Chilli Peppers on tour, they have survived punk funk and the indie disco to remain relevant and interesting to anyone with even a passing interest in guitar music and electronics.

We caught up with front man Nic Offer to find out what his 21 sauces of inspiration are, and what he has for breakfast.

1. What gets you going in the morning?

The cats still haven't learned to feed themselves after all these years.

2. What five records would you take to a desert island and why?

Sly and the Family Stone - There's A Riot Going On

Black Uhuru - Red

Brian Eno - Another Green World

Luomo - Vocal City

Roxy Music - Avalon

I realized over time that these were 5 of my favourite records because I kept returning to them, because there was so much still to discover in them. I feel that all of these are linked in that they are all loose and dense, soupy or swampy even so that I've never been able to get my head around them completely. That also makes them great for a desert island.

3. What inspires you to create?

Coffee

4. What book or piece of literature are you reading at the moment?

Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates

5. Favourite piece of literature and why?

The Fermata by Nicholson Baker

I guess because it's the book I passed on to the most of my friends. Maybe it's not that great, only half of them really like it, and maybe I just pass that one on because it's easy to read and it always seems like your friends who don't read are the ones asking for books. Or maybe I just don't hang out with enough readers. Actually I thought the end was going to be a little better, and I remember thinking if he pulled it off it was going to be my favourites book. He didn't pull it off as well as he could've but I can't think what else I’ve liked better right now, so I’ll stick with that. Oh, what am I thinking it's probably Ada or Ardor by Nabokov. Jesus Christ, that's a book.

6. Favourite club?

Berghain

7. What one historical figure inspires you or would you like to meet?

Walt Whitman seems like a nice bloke

8. List five movies that you couldn’t live without?

The Idiots

Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind

Purple Rain

Nashville

Boogie Nights

9. Favourite director and actor?

That scene where Philip Seymour Hoffman cries on New Year's Eve in Boogie Nights gets me every time. Actually everyone's just great in that, so i'll say Paul Thomas Anderson for my director.

10. Favorite piece of architecture or building?

Home

11. Favorite combination of food or recipe?

Rye toast with extra sharp cheddar cheese, poached eggs and hiracha sauce. I make it every single morning, it's like a big joke to all my friends.

12. Favourite musical genre in the last 100 years and what would you mix it with if you could?

70s soul is probably my all time favourite sound. It just always makes me feel good. And everything sounds better with a little 70s soul in it, right? I mean anything that samples it always sounds better, hip hop, house, dubstep, what have you.

13. Favourite internet site?

I learn something new from Wikipedia everyday.

14. Who has had the biggest influence on you in your life?

Probably one of my ex’s.

15. Stevie or Marvin?

Even Marvin would say Stevie. Well I guess, actually Stevie would probably say Marvin too, but he'd just be saying that as he's a great guy. I remember this one time after I got back from a trip my old best friend had started hanging out with my new best friend. They had really hit it off and didn't seem to have as much use for me anymore. We spent this kind of awkward night together walking the town, the 2 of them talking excitedly about everything and me kind of trailing behind them. One of the things we discussed was Marvin [Gaye] vs Stevie [Wonder]. At the time I was completely wrapped up in Marvin, but they both shook their heads at me and agreed that Stevie was the one. It wasn't till years later that I realized they were both right.

16. Favorite 5 music artists currently listening too?

Tame Impala, Conforce, The Mole, Jorge Ben, Ariel Pink.

17. Favorite piece of art or artist and why?

I like Splash by David Hockney. You can almost hear it splash. Everything in the picture is so straight, simple and pure, and the splash is just a messy abstract blob in the middle of it. There's a print of it on a friend of mine's wall and I always catch myself staring at it.

18. Artist you’d most like to collaborate with?

I have this dream of doing some kind of Rick Rubin production style album with Aretha Franklin where I get to pick all the songs for her to cover with a back to basics raw soul band. I'd choose stuff like Midnight or Only You by Yazoo and Bad by U2 (trust me on that one, she would do her own thing and really turn that out. No one can do a cover like Aretha)

19. One obscure band you think should be more popular?

Berg Sans Nipple

20. What’s your ringtone?

I used to love having the current hip hop hits for ring tones, I assigned different hits to different friends, my ex had R Kelly’s ‘Your Body's Callin’’. Gorman was The Purple ribbon All-Stars’ ‘Kryptonite’, Allan was Trey Songz’ ‘Say Aah’, Paul was Led Zeppelin’s ‘Immigrant Song’. My new phone won't let me do that though, so I just have some ravey type of thing that's actually kind of all right. Sounds slightly magical.

21. Do you have a favourite sauce?

I put Hiracha sauce [hot chilli sauce] on almost everything.

!!! are the New York based, LA born agit-pop-funk band who are just about to release their fourth album. From humble beginnings fusing house beats and spoken word extractions of the Flashdance soundtrack to supporting the Red Hot Chilli Peppers on tour, they have survived punk funk and the indie disco to remain relevant and interesting to anyone with even a passing interest in guitar music and electronics.

We caught up with front man Nic Offer to find out what his 21 sauces of inspiration are, and what he has for breakfast.

1. What gets you going in the morning?

The cats still haven't learned to feed themselves after all these years.

2. What five records would you take to a desert island and why?

Sly and the Family Stone - There's A Riot Going On

Black Uhuru - Red

Brian Eno - Another Green World

Luomo - Vocal City

Roxy Music - Avalon

I realized over time that these were 5 of my favourite records because I kept returning to them, because there was so much still to discover in them. I feel that all of these are linked in that they are all loose and dense, soupy or swampy even so that I've never been able to get my head around them completely. That also makes them great for a desert island.

3. What inspires you to create?

Coffee

4. What book or piece of literature are you reading at the moment?

Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates

5. Favourite piece of literature and why?

The Fermata by Nicholson Baker

I guess because it's the book I passed on to the most of my friends. Maybe it's not that great, only half of them really like it, and maybe I just pass that one on because it's easy to read and it always seems like your friends who don't read are the ones asking for books. Or maybe I just don't hang out with enough readers. Actually I thought the end was going to be a little better, and I remember thinking if he pulled it off it was going to be my favourites book. He didn't pull it off as well as he could've but I can't think what else I’ve liked better right now, so I’ll stick with that. Oh, what am I thinking it's probably Ada or Ardor by Nabokov. Jesus Christ, that's a book.

6. Favourite club?

Berghain

7. What one historical figure inspires you or would you like to meet?

Walt Whitman seems like a nice bloke

8. List five movies that you couldn’t live without?

The Idiots

Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind

Purple Rain

Nashville

Boogie Nights

9. Favourite director and actor?

That scene where Philip Seymour Hoffman cries on New Year's Eve in Boogie Nights gets me every time. Actually everyone's just great in that, so i'll say Paul Thomas Anderson for my director.

10. Favorite piece of architecture or building?

Home

11. Favorite combination of food or recipe?

Rye toast with extra sharp cheddar cheese, poached eggs and hiracha sauce. I make it every single morning, it's like a big joke to all my friends.

12. Favourite musical genre in the last 100 years and what would you mix it with if you could?

70s soul is probably my all time favourite sound. It just always makes me feel good. And everything sounds better with a little 70s soul in it, right? I mean anything that samples it always sounds better, hip hop, house, dubstep, what have you.

13. Favourite internet site?

I learn something new from Wikipedia everyday.

14. Who has had the biggest influence on you in your life?

Probably one of my ex’s.

15. Stevie or Marvin?

Even Marvin would say Stevie. Well I guess, actually Stevie would probably say Marvin too, but he'd just be saying that as he's a great guy. I remember this one time after I got back from a trip my old best friend had started hanging out with my new best friend. They had really hit it off and didn't seem to have as much use for me anymore. We spent this kind of awkward night together walking the town, the 2 of them talking excitedly about everything and me kind of trailing behind them. One of the things we discussed was Marvin [Gaye] vs Stevie [Wonder]. At the time I was completely wrapped up in Marvin, but they both shook their heads at me and agreed that Stevie was the one. It wasn't till years later that I realized they were both right.

16. Favorite 5 music artists currently listening too?

Tame Impala, Conforce, The Mole, Jorge Ben, Ariel Pink.

17. Favorite piece of art or artist and why?

I like Splash by David Hockney. You can almost hear it splash. Everything in the picture is so straight, simple and pure, and the splash is just a messy abstract blob in the middle of it. There's a print of it on a friend of mine's wall and I always catch myself staring at it.

18. Artist you’d most like to collaborate with?

I have this dream of doing some kind of Rick Rubin production style album with Aretha Franklin where I get to pick all the songs for her to cover with a back to basics raw soul band. I'd choose stuff like Midnight or Only You by Yazoo and Bad by U2 (trust me on that one, she would do her own thing and really turn that out. No one can do a cover like Aretha)

19. One obscure band you think should be more popular?

Berg Sans Nipple

20. What’s your ringtone?

I used to love having the current hip hop hits for ring tones, I assigned different hits to different friends, my ex had R Kelly’s ‘Your Body's Callin’’. Gorman was The Purple ribbon All-Stars’ ‘Kryptonite’, Allan was Trey Songz’ ‘Say Aah’, Paul was Led Zeppelin’s ‘Immigrant Song’. My new phone won't let me do that though, so I just have some ravey type of thing that's actually kind of all right. Sounds slightly magical.

21. Do you have a favourite sauce?

I put Hiracha sauce [hot chilli sauce] on almost everything.

As Depeche Mode so eloquently put it, we ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’ and that’s how we feel about this month’s tracks. August has been a good month for us and as usual we have an eclectic track selection. Ranging from Art Department’s dark and sexy ‘Without You’ to Mr. Flagio’s power disco of ‘Take A Chance’ we have everything your ears desire. Run through the tracks, tell us what you think and pass us some of your musical gems.

The EB Office team is: Carlos de Brito (CDB), Gareth Owen (GO), Kazim Rashid (KR), Ari Stein (AS) and Marc Zedler (MZ).

Art Department - Without You

(Taken from the 12" Vampire Nightclub/Without You (2010) on Crosstown Rebels)

This track is an absolute belter! Kenny Glasgow and Jonny White teamed up as Art Department and created a sexy, dark and bass-heavy monster. Listen above, or even better, in a good club near you. It's already causing a stir on dancefloors worldwide. Oh, and you should definitely check out their excellent Rebelcast #9 for Crosstown Rebels. In my opinion, one of the best mixes around these days. (CDB)

Balam Acab - See Birds

(Taken from the 12" See Birds (2010) on Tri Angle)

Sounding like a more twisted intense version of Massive Attack, this ghostly-dub-styled track comes from the very fresh mysterious New York producer Balam Acab. It's based around the Kompakt-affiliated, Brooklyn-based Tri Angle label founded by the revered experimental/dance blog 20 Jazz Funk Greats. This tune is contagious and highly infectious, watch out! (AS)

Claro Intelecto - Peace Of Mind

(Taken from the 12" Peace Of Mind EP (2003) on Ai Records)

I stumbled upon this electronic masterpiece a while ago and it took me some time to find out what it was: One of the earlier Claro Intelecto tracks - a timeless classic. (CDB)

Darkstar - Aidy's Girl is a Computer

(Taken from the single Aidys Girl is a Computer (2009) on Hyperdub)

The Album is nearly here.......... This song is so perfect, that my cack-handed descriptions can never do it justice. Bittersweet and melancholic, joyful and sad, 'Aidy's Girl is a Computer' makes any thought or memory into a tiny art-house movie in your head. I am listening to this whilst watching a dog shit on the pavement and it's making me cry. (GO)

DJ Nate - Hata's our Motivation

(Taken from the album Da Trak (2010) Genious on Planet Mu)

Polarizing every one that listens to it, the general consensus from the more serious end of the beard stroking community is that Planet Mu have dropped the ball with DJ Nate - a young footwerk producer from Chicago. However, I don't really care about his credibility within a scene I know nothing about (and listening to the records doesn't impart any local knowledge either). The reasons most don't like DJ Nate, are the reasons I love him. Badly produced, low quality samples, half baked ideas. Dismissed as being crap by those "in the know"... that all sounds pretty familiar doesn't it? I don't care either way. I just can't stop listening to him, and this song in particular. (GO)

Although I tend to expect the unexpected, I was pretty surprised when the booking agency told me to meet Nicolas Jaar at the Park Inn Hotel in Berlin – a place where you usually find Asian tourists in bucket hats and ‘I ? Paris’ t-shirts or business men in suits and ties. Obviously the young New York-based producer felt a bit removed from the Park Inn’s usual crowd, with his gold Casio watch, desert boots and Tom Ford sunglasses.

Confronted with the question why he is staying here, he started to laugh and said that it wasn’t his idea. He thinks that Panorama Bar, where he is about to play one of his live-sets, gets corporate rates. I think, it’s sad Panorama Bar became an institution that gets special rates at the Park Inn, but I am not here to judge. I am here to interview Nicolas Jaar. Our conversation begins with Jaar himself, and goes on to encompass the crookedness of David Lynch’s movies, the grain of truth in Ricardo Villalobos’ productions, his debut album on Circus Company, the pain in New Order’s music and the brilliance of Kalabrese.

Ok... could you please introduce yourself briefly?

My name is Nicolas Jaar. I make different types of electronic music, which I release on Wolf + Lamb and Circus Company. That’s all for labels, apart from remixes, where I have worked for BPitch Control, Crosstown Rebels and Get Physical. I also have my own label called Clown and Sunset that I started to put out very weird music that none else would release except for me. At the moment I am touring Europe. Back in America I am studying Comparative Literature at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Islands. That’s where the TV-series Family Guy is set. You can imagine me playing Techno next to Stewie Griffin… (laughs)

The first time I’ve heard of your music was on this Air Drop compilation…

Wow, way back. ‘Deleuze’s Will’.

Exactly. In my opinion this song was super creepy. In your more recent productions like the remix for Ellen Alien’s “Flashy Flashy” or “Marks” from the Marks & Angels EP there are still some dark moments hidden somewhere. Do you have a secret affection the dark?

I don’t know whether I’m really into dark stuff. I think it’s more… moody. For some people David Lynch’s movies are dark or creepy, but for me they are weird and interesting; just a little different. They’re… crooked. Yeah, that’s the right word. Crooked. I am definitely interested in crookedness in music. And that has to do with my interest for switching tempo and things like that. Actually, a big dream of mine is to make films myself.

You want to make movies?

I am looking to make enough money with music to put it into film. I am writing a script, sort of. Actually, more thinking about the script. I have a lot of scenes in my head but I haven’t written it down yet. Because once you write something it gets distorted.

What kind of movies are you into?

I like all types of movies. There is always some form of poetry in the films I like though. For example Ma Nuit Chez Maud by Éric Rohmer. I also like The Dreamers and The Conformist by Bernardo Bertolucci or Blow Up by Michelangelo Antonioni.

Back to your music: You are releasing on Wolf + Lamb and Circus Company. These are two of the hottest labels around. How did you get in contact with them?

When I was 14 I told my Dad that I was getting into electronic music. So my Dad, an alternative artist, went into a record store in Chile and asked the owner to give him the most limits-pushing electronic album. It was Thé Au Harem D'Archimède by Ricardo Villalobos. I still like his music today because I think there is a grain of truth in his production. So, I was getting into Villalobos’ music and therefore I was looking for someone who was making minimal techno in New York: Wolf + Lamb. I gave them my music, which had nothing to do with minimal techno. But they liked it. It’s nice that Wolf + Lamb’s stock has risen in the meantime. It allows me to be here. That’s great.

Robert James’ first EP comes courtesy of Jamie Jones and Lee Foss’ Hot Creations imprint and it most certainly is a hot creation. Please excuse that most heinous of puns.

For fans of Soul Clap, Wolf+Lamb and other soul infused, vocal-lead house music: Robert James is the one for you. A bright talent from the hub that is Leeds, United Kingdom, James makes house music, real and proper, deep house music.

His first EP SleepMoods is drenched in soul, with a very sleazy cut of a Janet Jackson vocal, rolling bass-lines and seriously summery keys. The flip side ‘Connected’ doesn’t disappoint either, but the icing on the cakes comes courtesy of the Dyed Soundoroom remix of ‘Sleep Moods’, although the original is the one for me.

Watch out for Robert James as he takes the world by storm no doubt with his deep, vocal led house music.

The world of house music can be a fickle place. One minute a DJ is the next big thing and the next they are asking you for 3 euros for their lunch. Similarly good producers do not understand a dancefloor and have trouble maintaining their career through DJ’ing. Wbeeza does not fall in to either of the above; he will not be wanting lunch and he will make you dance.

Wbeeza (pronounced W-beeza) is 25 year old Warren Brown from Bermondsey, South London who makes house music. Proper, soulful, deep, house music aimed at the dance-floor. As soon as you hear his music, it is apparent that his inspiration is the dancer and most likely the female kind. He makes house music that makes you want to jack all night long until you start to scream.

As Wbeeza recalls, "Being the youngest to 6 brothers and 3 sisters I was influenced by a broad range of music from the moment I left the womb, so that shit was flowing! I started toying with music from the age of 14, writing lyrics in them days, and I was well known for beat boxing! I used to kick some heavy weight title beats with a couple of friends, don't ask me how but yeah I did it, although singing was never my forte. Anyway, at the age of 16 I was encouraged to take up music.”

After being picked up by Secret Sundaze’s booking agency, aptly named The Secret Agency, Wbeeza has been playing all around the world, wowing crowds with his vocal driven brand of house music, which references Detroit and Chicago, but sounds like it couldn’t have been made anywhere but London.

Keep your eyes on Wbeeza he is rising fast.

The world of house music can be a fickle place. One minute a DJ is the next big thing and the next they are asking you for 3 euros for their lunch. Similarly good producers do not understand a dancefloor and have trouble maintaining their career through DJ’ing. Wbeeza does not fall in to either of the above; he will not be wanting lunch and he will make you dance.

Wbeeza (pronounced W-beeza) is 25 year old Warren Brown from Bermondsey, South London who makes house music. Proper, soulful, deep, house music aimed at the dance-floor. As soon as you hear his music, it is apparent that his inspiration is the dancer and most likely the female kind. He makes house music that makes you want to jack all night long until you start to scream.

As Wbeeza recalls, "Being the youngest to 6 brothers and 3 sisters I was influenced by a broad range of music from the moment I left the womb, so that shit was flowing! I started toying with music from the age of 14, writing lyrics in them days, and I was well known for beat boxing! I used to kick some heavy weight title beats with a couple of friends, don't ask me how but yeah I did it, although singing was never my forte. Anyway, at the age of 16 I was encouraged to take up music.”

After being picked up by Secret Sundaze’s booking agency, aptly named The Secret Agency, Wbeeza has been playing all around the world, wowing crowds with his vocal driven brand of house music, which references Detroit and Chicago, but sounds like it couldn’t have been made anywhere but London.

Keep your eyes on Wbeeza he is rising fast.

EZ All,
Hope your all enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend
Atmosphere Radio

Venue: www.lifefm.co.uk
When: 29 Aug 2010, 6 - 8pm GMT (UK),
Host: DJ Clart
...
Featuring special guests dRamatic & dbAudio
[ Good Looking, SOUNdTRAX, Phuzion, Telluric, BIOS, Jazzsticks, FF Recordings, Influenza Media, Hustle Audio, Red Mist ]
Atmosphere Radio